Pistons' Ben Gordon goes through full practice, may return Wednesday against Grizzlies

AP File PhotoDetroit's Ben Gordon hasn't played since Jan. 11 because of a groin injury.AUBURN HILLS -- When it comes to injuries, the Detroit Pistons have had a lot more bad news than good this season.

But
they got positive news Monday when guard Ben Gordon went through a full
practice while trying to return after a groin injury.

“It was my
first time practicing for a full practice since I got hurt,” said
Gordon, who has sat out the past seven games with the injury. “It’s
feeling really good. There’s still a little bit of pain there, so
hopefully, by Wednesday I’ll be ready.”

Gordon is averaging 17.2
points and 3.0 assists in 25 games but has not played since a Jan. 11
loss to the Bulls in Chicago. He also missed time earlier in the season
with an ankle injury.

Gordon said he wants to make sure he is ready to go before returning to the lineup.

“It’s
a mental hurdle,” he said. “When I’m out there practicing, I’m still
conscious of every movement I make and trying to make sure I don’t
overextend myself. Until I get that out of the way, I probably won’t be
back. I’ll just continue to work on it until I can play without
second-guessing myself.”

If he cannot return Wednesday against
Memphis, Gordon said he will do what he has done the past two weeks:
make observations and offer advice to teammates.

“When you’re
sitting down, you see a lot more,” Gordon said. “I just try to bring to
the guys’ attention, sometimes just little things here and there, that
may help them.”

The Pistons said Gordon and Will Bynum (left ankle),
who also went through a full practice Monday, will be game-time
decisions Wednesday.

Pistons coach John Kuester liked what he saw out of Gordon and Bynum in practice Monday.

“They
both played with energy,” he said. “It’s just a matter of them getting
their legs back, which -- as we all know and have learned the hard way --
is going to take time.”Chucky Atkins (sternum) is expected to be in the lineup against the Grizzlies.

Report: Pistons interested in StoudemireAccording
to an online report, the Pistons are one of a handful of teams looking
to acquire Phoenix Suns forward Amar’e Stoudemire.

Stoudemire is expected to opt out of the
final year of his contract, which would pay him $17.7 million next
season. He entered the Suns’ game Monday night against Utah averaging
20.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.

Prince: No problem with coachTayshaun
Prince refused to discuss his verbal confrontation with Kuester on
Friday night after a loss to Indiana, but he addressed it briefly
Saturday after the team’s loss to Portland.

Prince said minor disagreements between coaches and players are not uncommon and the incident was blown out of proportion.

“That’s
why I didn’t speak about it before,” Prince told The Detroit News. “It
happens a lot more than people think, and it wasn’t as big as people
made it out to be."